Skirt marker



May 21, 1957 Filed Oct. 21, 1955 B. N. NOCK 2,792,631

SKIRT MARKER 2 Sheets-Sheet l I at I INVENTOR. BER 7/1 1). 11 0015,

May 21, 1957 N. NOCK SKIRT MARKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1955 FIG; 9

, IN VEN TOR. fit/WW 1L 71 0676 8 2,792,631 Patented May 21, 195.7

SKIRT MARKER Berta N. Nock, Shaker Heights, Qhic Application October 21, 1955, Serial No. 542,010 12 Claims. (Cl. 339) This invention relates to devices for marking ladies garments, such as skirts and dresses, with a plurality of circumferential rows of marks indicating the lines on which the garment is to be cut or folded and hemmed to assure that it normally hangs evenly all around at a uniform distance from the floor.

The purpose of a plurality of marks made simultaneously is to indicate the desired width of the hem, as well as the desired height from the floor. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to elfectively and easily place a pair of marks in successive horizontal positicns forming an upper and lower row, the marks being made to appear clearly and by a simple movement of an element operated by one hand of the user. An advantage of this operation is that the other hand may be free to maintain the proper, adjusted position of the skirt or dress, and to reposition it for successive pairs of marks.

A further object of the invention is to provide for adjusting .the spacing of a pair of markers so that the rows of marks may correspond to the desired width of the hem.

Further objects include so constructing such a device that it may be strong and durable in use, easy and convenient to operate, and capable of being cheaply manufactured.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide for making each mark by a single small chalk of the tailor chalk type composition, and which may be pressed against the fabric and turned without disturbing or distorting the cloth in the desired hanging or draped disposition. p

More specifically, by my invention I may make two or more small vertically spaced chalk marks by pressing the chalks against a vertical member rising from the floor, while holding the opposite side of the cloth, and by the single movement, efiEect the making of both marks in each selected position laterally spaced from preceding marks.

In carrying out my invention, I utilize chalk markers which are turned by a movement pressing them against the cloth or fabric after the manner of operation of the turning chalks of my prior Patent No. 2,541,435, granted February 13, 1951, for a Device for Marking Patterns on Cloth. Reference may also be had to an improved structure for mounting and turning the chalk holders shown, described and claimed in my prior application Serial No. 497,143, filed March 28, 1955, on a Device for Marking Patterns on Cloth.

Further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description, which relates to preferred embodiments thereof by which .the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained.

It is to be understood that the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings are illustrative of various possible modifications of my invention.

Heretofore, it has been attempted to make separated, parallel, circumferential rows of marks at predetermined 2. distance from the floor by the use of spaced tailors marking chalks of the Wedge-shaped or sharp-edged variety, which, however, encountered the difficulty of disturbing the hang of the skirt while eifecting a marking, it being necessary to move the chalk edgewise with relation to the cloth.

Other devices of various kinds have attempted to mark the skirt bottom or seam line, or both, by the use of means for locating pins to be individually put into the skirt and then be removed from the pin positioning means.

All such inconveniences or difliculties of using prior skirt marking devices are eliminated in the use of my device, which may may stand on the floor, be readily moved, and be operated by the simple pressure of the thumb, for example, to make two marks by pressing two small, round chalks against the fabric supported from behind by the rigid upright member rising from the floor, and which, after each marking, may be moved laterally any desired amount for the next pairof chalk dot-like marks. Thus, without disturbing the natural hang or drape of the garment, any number of marks constituting the parallel rows may be made in a much shorter time than with the use of prior skirt markers" known to me.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing one form of my skirt marker with a base adapted to stand on the floor and a chalk marker carrier and operating means;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective of the chalk carrier and operating device looking at the outer side of the chalk carrier;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same showing the position of the chalks when pressed against the upright support, it being assumed that the cloth or skirt stands between the chalk carriers and the upright when in opera tion; i

Fig. 4 is a composite view in perspective, and partly in section, of the chalk carrier and turning elements;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the member for mounting the chalk carrier and turning means showing the parts in position thereon; i

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the upright and chalk carriers illustrating a modified form;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the inner side of a chalk carrier means, as indicated by the line 7'7 of 6;

Fig. S'is a similar view of the chalk carrier showing the means for positioning the carriers and sectioned through the pivoted holder, as indicated by the line 88 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section taken on a plane indicated by the line '99 of Fig. 7.

Referring first to the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a base member may be of any suitable construction, as shown. It comprises a rod '1 bent in the form of a 'U, with a cross brace Z and an L-shaped bar 3 rigidly fixed tothe side portions 1 and 2, and extending upwardly as as 4 where it is embraced by the flanges of an upright 'channe -shaped supporting member -5.

A slide 10 is arranged to closely embrace and be moved along the upright channel 5. This slide carries a pair of rigid arms 12 extending outwardly and upwardly frorn'the front fiat side of the channel 5 supporting a pivot 13 on which an actuating arm and handle member 15 is pivoted to swing between the arms when moved by the handle portion 16.

Rigid with the supporting arms 12 is a forwardly and downwardly extending thumb rest 18. Between the handle 16 and the thumb rest 18 is a spring 19 normally urging the handle 16 inwardly toward the upright 5 and thus holding the upper end of the arm 15 outwardly, as

appears in igs- 1 and 2. The slide maybe held in" any selected position, as by a suitable screw having a knob 20, by which it maybe conveniently clamped or released for movement either upwardly or downwardly, as may be needed. a V

A bracket 22 is shown as having a pair of ears pivoted at 23 to the upper end of the arm 15, and as embracing a carrier member 25 intermediate the ends thereof. The carrier 25 is so constructed as to provide a front wall 26, guide members at each side thereof and with transverse end members 27 and 28 above and below the supporting bracket 22. The front wall 26 of the carrier is provided with slotted openings through which may project chalk holders, and along which they may be moved toward and away from eachother, and thus, toward and away from the center. a

The chalk holders are carried in specially constructed members having rectangular block portions 30 Slidable in the flanges of the member 25 and having tubular extensions 31 and 32 extending toward and away from the upright 5, and forming a receptacle for the chalk holding and turning means.

The sliding blocks 30 are so proportioned that threaded openings may be formed at one side of the communicating bores of the tubular portions. One of these sliding blocks may have right-hand threads and the other, left-hand threads, engaging corresponding right and left-hand threads on an adjusting screw 35 extending longitudinally along one side of the holder 25 and provided at its upper end with a suitable knob 36. When the screw 35 is turned by the knob, the chalk holding support blocks 30 may be moved either toward or away from each other to attain the desired spacing and, at the same time, be maintained at uniformly spaced distances from the pivot 23.

Assuming now that the chalks C are mounted in the holders, as will be presently described, and adjusted to the desired distance between them by turning the screw 35, it will be seen that as the handle 16 is swung upwardly and outwardly around the pivot 13, the arm will carry the chalk holder supporting member 25 inwardly toward the upright 5, where both chalks are pressed with equal force against the front face of the upright, as appears in Fig. 3. The convenience of effecting this movement is illustrated in Fig. 3, where the thumb of the user is pressed on the thumb rest 18 while one or more fingers move the handle 16, compressing the spring 19 and swinging the chalks to the upright and exerting equal pressure thereon.

The distance from the floor to the lower chalk C may be measured in any convenient manner. For example, the front face of the upright support 5 may be graduated in inches as diagrammatically indicated at I in Fig. 2. The spacing between the chalks may likewise be observed on such a scale or otherwise, where for some reason, it may be more convenient.

Merely pressing round chalk markers C against a fabric, such as the lower portion of a skirt hanging in front of the upright 5, is inadequate for efiective marking. Therefore, my invention includes the provision of means for automatically turning the chalks consequent upon bringing them'into contact with the fabric and pressing on them by moving the carrier 25 further toward the upright, as will now be described.

The chalk markers C are preferably in the form of round crayons or tailor chalk, or the like. These are carried in tubular members 40. The carrier blocks 30, as stated, are provided with communicating tubular extensions 31 and 32, the latter being of slightly larger inside diameter. The tubular chalk carrier members 40 are provided with trunnions or pins 42, preferably at diametrically opposite points, and these in turn may engage cams formed in the nature of spiral shoulders 43, inside of the tubular members, and each extending substantially half-way around to a longitudinal shoulder 44.

A cartridge-like element in the form of a tube 50, closed at one end, is provided with coacting complementary spiral cam shoulders 53 terminating at longitudinal guides 54. When the tubular member 50 is in position in the bore of the tube portion 32, these cam surfaces and guides are so spaced as to permit longitudinal and turning movement the chalk carrier member 40 is moved longitudinally with relation to the holder and tube 50.

A spring 55 within the cartridge 50 may urge the chalk holder element 40 outwardly while the pressure against the upright member 5 and fabric effected manually, as described, may compress the spring while the trunnions riding along the spiral cams 53 effect a partial turn slightly less than one-half a revolution of the chalk carrier members 40 and, and thus, of the chalk markers C.

As a convenient means for holding the spring 55 in an assembled position within the cartridge-like tube 50, I may provide a central pin having a head engaging and limiting outward movement of which one end of the spring projects while the other end fits against the closed base of the tube 50. Thus, as appears in the upper portion of Fig. 4, the spring containing cam tube 50 may constitute a self-contained, assembled unit. This unit may be quickly and readily removed from the tube portion 32 and replaced therein by means of a bayonet lock arrangement comprising pins or trunnions 62 fitting into bayonet lock notches 63 formed at the outer ends of the tubular portions 32.

For comparison to a like structure of such a chalk turning device, reference may be had to my prior application Serial No. 497,143. The device for turning the chalk by pressure against the fabric supported by a reaction member has also proven successful and eifective in my aforesaid application.

By the present invention, I have provided for effectively marking at predetermined spacing and in precise vertical alignment, and with equal marking efiect, by a simple squeezing pressure of thumb and finger, while the skirt marker is in position. This position is well known in the use of devices of similar nature, in that the upright projects upwardly beyond the seam inside of the skirt while the wearer stands in a natural position and the skirt hangs at the outer flat side of the upright 5. Obviously, the skirt may be straightened and smoothed with the free hand of the operator, and as many pairs of upper and lower marks may be made as desired.

The modification shown in Figs. 6 to 9 may be considered as illustrative of various changes in design of embodiments of my invention. Essentially, this modification constitutes a simplified form in which the means for adjustment of the position and spacing between the chalk markers may be more cheaply constructed, while yet being effective in operation, and comparatively simple to operate for the relative positioning of the chalk holders.

In this form, the upright channel member 5 is provided with the support 10 for the operating handle lever arranged in the same manner as indicated by reference numerals applied to like parts in the structure of Figs. 1 to 5.

Slidable within the channel shaped, pivoted, chalk car rier member are two blocks having openings in which are rigidly fixed chalk carriers corresponding in function to the member 30 and tubular portions 31 and 32.

As before, these carrier members are provided with axially aligned bores of slightly difierent diameters meeting at ofiset shoulders forming the spiral cams and guides for the trunnions 42 for turning the chalk holders 40.

The cartridge-like spring carrying tubular members 50 project into a slightly larger bore and are there emovably held, preferably by pins 62 engaging the bayonet slots 63:1.

The tubular member 80 preferably has an enlarged head portion 82, as shown, providing a shoulder which engages the inner side of its block 75, preventing this of the trunnions 42 therebetween as a slidable cap 61, into tubular member 80 from being displacedwhen the marking pressure is applied to the carrier channel member for pressing the chalks against the fabric interposed between them and the face of the uprights.

The blocks 75 are preferably held in selected positions by being urged against the side flange under the influence of fiat strip springs 85 attached thereto and having end portions pressing against and slidable along the opposite parallel side flange 86.

The space between the flanges 71 and 72 at the inner or upright side of the carrier permits freedom of movement of the enlarged head portion 82 along the same, While the fiat portion 70 of this carrier channel shaped member is provided with elongated openings 90, one side of which is straight, as shown, while the other is provided with scallops forming notches, indicated at 91. These fit the outer surface of the cylindrical members 80 and into which these members 80 are pressed by the springs 85. The spacing of the notches and intervening points preferably corresponds to fractions of an inch, and indicia as at 93 may thus indicate the spacing between the chalk markers, approximately in inches and fractions thereof.

To move the chalk to selected positions, it is only necessary to press the member 80 toward the spring slightly and move it with its carrier block 75 to a selected position, each of the chalk carriers being so positioned for any particular marking at equal distances from the pivoted bracket 22 and pivot 23.

Assuming that the chalk holders have been equally spaced from the pivot at selected points, the bracket may be moved to bring the chalks at the desired distance from the floor for marking the hem and fold lines, and the clamping screw is then tightened by the knob 20, as before.

The handle 16 may now be pressed toward the thumb rest 18, swinging the chalks inwardly against the fabric, which, of course, is assumed to be hanging on the inner fiat side of the upright channel 5.

As before, the pressure on the chalk carriers through the action of the trunnions and cam surface eifects a partial turn of the chalks being pressed against the fabric, assuring clearly visible marking. The handle 16, being released after each marking, swings outwardly under the pressure of the spring 19 (not shown in Fig. 6), and the upright is then moved to another position for the next marking. This may, of course, be repeated to make parallel rows of closely spaced chalk marks entirely around the skirt while it is hanging and draped in the natural position on the wearer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A garment marking device comprising an upright supporting bar, a base therefor adapted to rest on the floor, an arm pivotally connected to the supporting bar, a pair of chalks and a rigid member supporting the chalks at predetermined spaced position, a pivotal connection between the rigid member and the upper portion of the arm, said connection being midway between said chalks, whereby swinging the arm may present the chalks simultaneously and with equal pressure against the upright supporting bar with and against the interposed fabric, and means for rotating each chalk on an axis normal to the supporting bar consequent upon application of such pressure.

2. The device defined in claim 1 in which a vertically adjustable bracket is carried on the upright supporting bar and to which said pivoted arm is connected.

3. A garment marking device comprising an upright supporting bar, a base therefor adapted to rest on the floor, an adjustable slide on said supporting bar, an arm pivotally connected to the slide, a pair of chalks and a rigid member supporting the chalks at predetermined spaced positions, a pivotal connection between the rigid member and the upper portion of the arm and attached to said rigid member midway between the chalks whereby swinging the arm may present the :chalkssimultaneously :and with equal pressure against the supporting bar with and against the interposed fabric, a rigid thumb rest on said slide, and said arm having a finger-grip portion adjacent to said thumb rest.

4. A skirt marking device comprising a base, an upright rigid supporting member rising therefrom, a slide on said member and means for holding the slide at adjusted positions of different heights, an arm pivoted to the slide, two chalk-marking elements, rotatable chalk holders supporting each of said elements including cams for effecting an axial rotation thereof consequent upon pressure on the chalks, a rigid carrier for the chalk holders, a pivotal connection between the carrier and the movable arm midway between the chalks, whereby when the arm is moved to carry the pivot toward the upright supporting member the chalks may be pressed against the skirt between the chalks and the upright supporting member with uniform pressure.

5. The device defined in claim 4 in which the chalk holders are movable relative to the carrier pivot, and means are provided for holding them at different separated distances.

6. The device defined in claim 4 in which means are provided for adjusting the chalks to different positions, said means comprising an oppositely threaded screw member engaging the chalk holders.

7. The skirt marking device defined in claim 4 in which the arm pivoted with the slide has a downwardly extending handle portion and the slide is provided with a thumb rest, the thumb rest and handle portions being so positioned as to be engaged by the thumb and fingers to move the handle toward the thumb rest, swinging the arm to present the chalks to the skirt.

8. The skirt marking device defined in claim 4 in which a spring is provided to react on the rigid upright supporting member and the arm to normally swing the chalks away from the skirt.

9. The skirt marking device defined in claim 4 in which the chalk holders are removably positioned in the rigid carrier.

10. A garment marking device for making parallel rows of marks comprising a pair of rotatable chalks, a rigid supporting element on which the chalks are mounted and are spaced apart, means pivotally attached to said rigid element midway between the chalks, means connected with the pivotal support for moving said sup port, a rigid backing member adapted to be placed on one side of the cloth to be marked opposite to that from the chalks, and a carrier connected to the pivotal means and to said backing member arranged to bring the chalks simultaneously against the cloth to exert uniform pressure on each of the chalks against a cloth and for pressing it against the backing member.

11. A skirt marker of the character described adapted to rest on the floor and project upwardly within the skirt, a pair of marking chalks, rigid means for supporting said chalks at predetermined separated distances, including a pivot equidistantly pivoted between the chalks, means supported on the upright member connected with said pivot and adapted to swing to bring the chalks toward the skirt and press it against the upright member and rotatable means carrying each chalk, including cams for elfecting turning consequent upon the longitudinal pressure exerted on the chalks.

12. A garment marking device for making parallel rows of marks on a depending skirt comprising a pair of chalks, a rotatable holder for each chalk for rotating it on an axis, a rigid element on which said chalk holders are mounted in spaced apart positions, pivotal means connected to said rigid element midway between the chalks, a rigid upright backing member adapted to be placed on one side of the skirt to be marked, a swingable carrier for said rigid member pivotally connected to said pivot to project the chalks simultaneously to the other 7 3 side of the cloth and exert uniform pressure on each References Cited inthe file of this patent of the ehalks, and means causing each of the chalks to v UNITED STATES PATENTS be rotated on an axis at right angles to the upright sup- 4 V V 1 v t 2,541,435 Nock Feb. 13, 1951 port and to the surface of the mterposed cloth conse- 8 2,543,611 Stem at a]. Feb- 27, 1951 quent upon the relative longitudinal movement in the carriers therefor. 

